Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"SPB Software, a leading mobile software developer, announces that the Windows Mobile Classic and Professional (touchscreen) version of its famous developmental game SPB Brain Evolution has received a major update and now reached version 2.0. SPB Brain Evolution is available since January 2007 and by now has achieved the world's best selling Windows Mobile game status (year 2008). The game allows hundreds of thousands of users worldwide to improve their mental awareness and maintain their newly achieved brain fitness. The game currently contains twelve exercises which, put together, help users to keep their mind in a proper shape. These exercises are Sudoku, Numbers, Arithmetics, Quadronica, Guess Who, Memorica, Encyclopedia, Minesweeper, Matches, Balltracker, Geometry and Pairs, the latter two being completely new. They help user to exercise such basic mind activities as logic, arithmetic and memory. While the training mode prepares you for the battle the marking mode allows you to register your progress. The game also allows tracking the progress in your personal brain evolution which immediately becomes available in the form of a diagram or a score."

While the tech world can't stop talking about what games the Zune HD might pack, and what 99c gaming wonder might hit the iPhone next, Spb Software continues to deliver some neat little games for Windows Mobile. The good folks there have just pushed Spb Brain Evolution 2.0 out the door, and in the process, they've added two new exercises, achievements, Twitter integration, a new scoring system, a touch-friendly UI, and support for 480 x 800 displays. To try or buy, head over to our affiliate software store. The full version is priced at $19.95. If you have v1.x, the upgrade is 50% off.

"SPB Software, a top mobile usability expert and mobile applications developer, releases SPB Radio - a high-quality Internet radio player for Windows Phones, which gives subscription-free access to an unlimited number of live streaming radio stations from all over the world. SPB Radio features a modern touch-interface with adaptive skins and on-screen controls. The application has a built-in catalog with over fifteen hundred radio stations, categorized by genre, geographical region, and language. SPB Radio allows searching the built-in catalogue by name of station, keeping a list of favorites, and easily adding more custom radio stations to the catalogue. While playing, SPB Radio displays the current station's name and bit rate. SPB Radio makes it possible to enjoy the most pressing international news, live sports, talk, and entertainment shows in remarkable digital radio sound quality. SPB Radio delivers the diverse voices of the world's multitude of live radio stations directly to the speakers of mobile phones: anyplace, anytime."

Spb Software has released Spb Radio 1.0 for all flavours of Windows Mobile 5.0 and later. It packs a touch-friendly UI, over 1500+ preset stations, support for custom stations and favourites, and more, all at the reasonable price of $9.95. Hit our affiliate software store (Classic/Professional, Standard) for a trial version or full version.

"Spb Software, a leading maker of mobile software, releases Spb Mobile Shell 3.0, the next-generation user interface for Windows phones. According to Handango Yardstick, Spb Mobile Shell was the world's number one bestselling application of 2008 among all mobile platforms. Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 accounts for two different smartphone use scenarios: at work and at play. The application offers distinctive 'professional' and 'lifestyle' desktops, integration of picture contacts with Facebook, account-sensitive email indicators, handsome time and weather screens, widgets, responsive kinetic scrolling, signature 3D animation engine, and other appealing assets that change the way a Windows phone is used altogether."

Spb Software has released v3.0 of its ever-popular UI for Windows Mobile, and it adds some impressive features such as widgets, Facebook integration, a 3D carousel with hardware acceleration support, and Professional and Lifestyle home screens. Interested in trying or buying? Head over to our affiliate software store. If you're a registered user of v2.x, the upgrade is available at a discounted price of $14.95, or free if you purchased it within the last 90 days.

"Today at CTIA Wireless, Spb Software - a leading maker of mobile applications, announces the release of Spb TV - a practical mobile TV player with patent-pending on-screen controls and fast channel switching technology, use of intelligent stream correction, picture-in-picture mode, and an integrated TV guide with export of show reminders into Outlook. Spb TV is a subscription-free and international live mobile TV solution that is geared up to utilize the new generation of faster wireless networks. The now standalone mobile TV solution for Windows Phones, Spb TV was first introduced to the market in September 2008 as the flagship feature of Spb Online. Since then, it has hosted millions of mobile TV sessions. Spb TV is unique in its approach to the mobile TV experience, offering the unexpectedly natural simplicity of watching live TV on a phone. Spb TV goes a long way to support the genuine TV watching behavior on a handset: quick TV guide check-up and channel hopping, on-screen controls for volume and backlight, neat integration of TV functionality with other mobile features (such as messages, calls, and battery life monitoring)."

Spb Software has packaged the TV feature of Spb Online into its own product, Spb TV. The application includes a unique TV browser, an integrated TV guide, PiP mode, support for reminders, and a touch-friendly interface. There's a free, trial version (Windows Mobile Classic/Professional, Windows Mobile Standard) at our affiliate software store. The full version will set you back $14.95.